POWERCRUISE BRISBANE

QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

ROLL RACING, POWER SKIDS, CRUISING, A DYNO SHOOTOUT …

While it might seem crazy to jump the ditch for a ‘drive your mates’ type of event, the sheer scale of the fixture and the craziness of the cars that attend the Australian Powercruises should make it a worthwhile trip. We’d recommend the Sydney and Brisbane runnings as the ones worth a gander, and with the Sydney one having just happened, Brisbane is the next one on the event diary. To be held at Queensland Raceway, Willowbank, it’s the original rolling car show, with roll racing, power skids, cruising, a dyno shoot-out, drifting, off-street racing, and a show ’n’ shine. A new feature is the 789 Cruise session, for cars that run seven-, eight-, or nine-second ETs, so expect some great impromptu roll race line-ups during this one.

The best way to experience an event like this is in a car, so you’d need to do a little legwork, and make sure you get yourself into a few of the big power machines offering rides to would-be brave souls. The amount of big power blown and turbo V8s frying tyres is unlike anything we have here. The burnout pad at Queensland is huge, so the speed is right up there for wild tip-ins.

Sadly, camping is only open to entrants, but Ipswich, the closest city to the track, has plenty of accommodation. Failing that, Brisbane CBD is only 45 minutes’ drive, so is also an option. If you need any sort of convincing on this one, a quick trip to YouTube for some highlight vids should be all the convincing you’ll require.

Five days of racing at five tracks make up the 2021 running of the Street Machine Drag Challenge. Started in 2014, the event mimics the infamous American variant, where the car you race must also get you from track to track, while also carrying everything you need, including any pit crew. Over the week, the teams will travel more than 1500km inside Victoria. As a spectator sport, it would be for very hardcore drag racing fans only, as there is not a lot of fluff for spectators; however, with just shy of 300 entrants — it sold out in hours — if you really love drag racing then the drama of an event like this would be pure cocaine, and we probably don’t need to try sell its appeal to you. We would recommend jumping on Facebook and getting into the member group, which has lots of helpful information on accommodation. A camper van would also be a great option, as the event covers the entire state and takes in some great scenery. But, if you’re staying around, well, at least some of the racers, it’s going to maximise the drama — or should we say, the drinking — you get over the week. The event will kick off at Calder Park in Melbourne and then head west to South Coast Raceway (460km). You’ll then head 560km inland to Sunset Strip in Mildura. The next destination is set to be Heathcote Park Raceway some 430km away, before the final day back at Calder. Those are some serious kilometres to cover in five days, but the scenery and the racing will make up for it.

Traditional hot rods and customs, choppers, bobbers, punk, and rock ’n’ roll. Chopped is one of those festivals that love things to be the way they were, way back when. Now over a decade old, it has grown and grown from some very humble beginnings, and is now attended by Aussies from all corners of the dust, as well as many internationals.

After a few years off, it returned in 2019 with a revamped format that included a paved drag strip replacing the old mud drags. At only 80m long, it’s no full strip, but long enough for great displays of vintage power — although it’s rumoured that both styles of track will be running this time around, due to the popularity of the dirt drags.

As much a music festival as it is a car and bike show, the event has been extended to three days and features a huge line-up of bands, all hand-picked to ensure the best possible Australian-heavy selection, with the likes of Reverend Horton Heat, The Meanies, Guantanamo Baywatch, Puta Madre Brothers, Drunk Mums, and The Cherry Dolls.

There is on-site camping — proper camping, with campfires, and so on — but don’t think you’ll get your rental car in there; to keep things proper, rules are strict regarding cars in the campsite, and at the venue for that matter. If it’s not a pre-’65 traditional-style rod, custom, or race car devoid of billet wheels or parts, or period-correct wheels, it’s not welcome; nor are rods with independent front suspension (IFS). Bikes are also traditional-style bobbers and choppers, and must have kick start and narrow tyres — so you see, these boys are pushing hard to keep the event pure to its roots.

The venue is located two hours north of Melbourne in the small town of Carisbrook, which also has direct train routes if you’re on a budget. Some of the special features of the event include the Wolfman’s One Man Band Truck — an old Bedford flatbed that roams the ground with live music being played right there on the back — and two on-site bars, the Tiki Palace, which is known for its cocktails, and the Ole Smoky Moonshine Cabin, for its … moonshine. Tickets for the event can be pre-purchased, but campsites are not pre allocated.